We were happy to learn that CUPE and the Government had reached a tentative agreement late on Sunday, which meant that our doors would reopen to students today!
Please note that report cards were distributed electronically to all students, parents and guardians last Friday. If you have not received an electronic report card, please check your spam and junk folders. All report cards were password protected and instructions for accessing the report card were included in the email that accompanied the report card. All grade 11s and 12s are reminded of the Full Disclosure deadline of this coming Friday.
Sincerely,
Yvette Duffy, Principal Maharukh Kootar, Vice Principal Nancy Martins, Vice Principal
In this issue:
- The Next Two Weeks at a Glance
- New Course Proposals – Due Monday, November 21
- Virtual Screening: Periphery – Tuesday, November 22 @ 6:30 p.m.
- Late Start – Wednesday, November 23 – Classes Begin at 9:55 a.m.
- Movember Bake Sale – Friday, November 25
- Grad Photos – November 28 through December 9
- Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test – Tuesday, December 6 & Wednesday, December 7
- Messages from Special Education – Healthy Sleep – Wednesday, November 23 @ 12:30 pm
- Messages from Guidance
- Messages from School Council Chair Tracy Kowal – Wish List 2022
- Trustee Laskin’s Weekly Updates
- Worth Mentioning Again… Spam & Phishing Emails; Commencement Survey Results
The Next Two Weeks at a Glance
Keep apprised of what is happening by linking to our school year calendar which is live on our school website landing page.
New Course Proposals – Due Monday, November 21
Our course review process to determine which courses will be offered at Forest Hill next year is getting underway. We are interested in hearing from students about courses that they would like to see offered. For a complete list of courses offered in the Ontario Curriculum, please visit the Ontario Ministry of Education website.
Please note a Curriculum Review committee with representation from Administration, Guidance, Student Success, Special Education, and subject departments will review the applications and make programming decisions based on the following:
- rationale behind offering a new course
- needs and interests of the students and the school community
- how the course complements our existing program
- how the course will affect enrolment in other courses
- technology, equipment and associated budgetary cost required to run the course
- implications of the course for the future programming of the school
- uniqueness of the course
If students have a course that they would like offered, please complete FHCI New Course Proposal - Student Submission 2023/2024 by Monday, November 21. Note: Students must be logged into the TDSB to access and complete the proposal.
Virtual Screening: Periphery – Tuesday, November 22 @ 6:30 p.m.
On November 22, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. the Equity, Anti-Racism & Anti-Oppression department is collaborating with the Ontario Jewish Archives and the TDSB Jewish Heritage Committee to host a virtual screening of Periphery. Periphery is an evocative film about ethnic diversity in the Jewish community in Toronto, Canada. Through dance, poetry, and personal narratives, 10 Jews of Black/African, Korean, Iraqi, Indian, and South American ancestry challenge perceptions of who is a Jew. Periphery invites us to appreciate the richness of Jewish identity and cultural expression while illustrating the feeling of grappling to belong. Find out more by linking to this flyer.
Late Start – Wednesday, November 23 – Classes Begin at 9:55 a.m.
Each month our staff will participate in our monthly Staff Meeting. This will result in a late start for students as classes will begin at 9:55 a.m. on these dates. Link to our Daily & Late Start Schedule for more information.
Movember Bake Sale – Friday, November 25
Listen up to the announcements this week for more information about our Movember Bake Sale hosted by Cookies for a Cure Club. Buy a treat to help the club raise money for cancer! Thank you to Hawa W, Yalda P and our staff sponsor, Ms. Pupovac!
Grad Photos – Monday, November 28 through Friday, December 9 – Appointment Necessary
An email will be sent to all potential graduates, parents and guardians at the end of this coming week to indicate that Grad Photos will begin on Monday, November 28 by appointment and run until Friday, December 9. Stay tuned!
Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test – Tuesday, December 6 & Wednesday, December 7
All grade 10 students are required to write the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) as part of their graduation requirement. This year the test will be held in both semesters.
The Semester 1 OSSLT is scheduled for Tuesday, December 6, and Wednesday, December 7. Semester 1 grade 10 English students who are registered in ENG2D1 are required to write the OSSLT on these dates. Previously eligible students will be expected write on these dates as well. Information will be communicated to all eligible first semester students and their families via email in the coming weeks. Note: Semester 2 grade 10 English students will write in April.
To access practice tests and more information, link to: EQAO – OSSLT Practice Test page. Please keep in mind that this test assesses grade 9 curriculum. Thank you to our Literacy Committee and Ms. Martins who are working to support the delivery of this mandatory test.
Messages from Special Education
Virtual Office Hours for Families: Healthy Sleep and Rest for Students & Families
The TDSB's occupational therapists and physiotherapists are excited to offer professional development and virtual office hours for families of students with special education and inclusion needs. On November 23rd, between 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm, families can join a brief education session followed by an open forum where attendees may ask questions, receive generalized strategies to support their students and connect with one another. This month's discussion will focus on Healthy Sleep and Rest for Your Student/Family. Link to this flyer for more information or contact Jocelyn Lai (Jocelyn.lai@tdsb.on.ca).
Messages from Guidance
Full Disclosure Dates for Grade 11 & 12 Courses
Last day to drop for courses to be excluded from transcripts: November 25, 2022.
Grade 12 Post-Secondary Liaison Visits This Week
Forest Hill is excited to host various post-secondary institutions at lunch during the months of October and November. Various university representatives will be available to discuss their schools and programs this week as follows:
|
Date
|
Time
|
University
|
Location
|
|
Monday, November 21
|
11:40 a.m.
|
Ontario Tech
|
Back of Guidance
|
|
Wednesday, November 23
|
11:40 a.m.
|
Guelph Humber
|
Back of Guidance
|
|
Thursday, November 24
|
11:40 a.m.
|
York
|
Room 245
|
|
Friday, November 25
|
11:40 a.m.
|
OCAD
|
Room 245
|
Please link to FHCI Post-Secondary Sessions 2022/2023 for the full list of the universities and colleges that will be visiting Forest Hill throughout this and next month.
OUAC Applications
All students are encouraged to watch this video: How To Create Your OUAC Account & Complete the 101 Application. Equal Consideration Deadline for Ontario universities is January 12, 2023.
Students Taking External Credits Outside of the TDSB
Students taking external credits outside of TDSB are reminded that Forest Hill does not share mid-term reports from external institutions with OUAC. Forest Hill only enters the final mark upon receiving the final report card from the external institution and will be uploaded to OUAC during scheduled TDSB transmissions.
Students are encouraged to have the external credit provider upload the course and mid-term mark directly to OUAC. Please review the 5:25 mark of this video, to learn how to add an external institution to your OUAC application. Students must provide their OUAC Reference Number, generated AFTER submission of their OUAC application, to enable the external institution uploads.
OCAS Applications
Students who are planning to apply to Ontario colleges are encouraged to link to and review this instruction video: How To Apply to Ontario Colleges. Equal Consideration Deadline for Ontario Colleges is February 1, 2023
Thank you for Ms. Ng for her support of our students!
Messages from School Council – Chair Tracy Kowal
Wish List 2022 – Raising Funds to Replace the Stage – Please Donate!
On behalf of FHCI's School Council, we are excited to launch our 2022 Wish List Campaign!
This annual fundraiser provides all families the opportunity to enrich our children's classrooms with materials and equipment to enhance their education. Through provincial funding, the TDSB covers the day-to-day expenses of basic school operations. Through the Wish List Campaign, we provide the extras the school board doesn't cover.
This year, we are raising funds to help with the installation of a new stage for the school auditorium. We are reaching out for your support as we cannot do this without you. No donation is too small! Find out how to donate by linking to this flyer: FHCI Wish List 2022.
Trustee Laskin’s Weekly Updates
Learn more about upcoming events and keep informed by linking to Trustee Laskin's Weekly Newsletter.
Worth Mentioning Again…
Spam & Phishing Emails – Students are Encouraged to Use Caution
Students are reminded to be cautious when clicking links that might result in ransomware, viruses or scams. A number of scam and phishing emails, pretending to come from TDSB email addresses, have sought money or student information in recent weeks. Students are reminded to use caution and not to share their passwords or personal information. Our IT Services are aware of these emails and are working to filter such to ensure that students are not privy to these. If you receive such emails, please link to this information sheet and forward the email to spamreporting@tdsb.on.ca.
Commencement Survey Results – Commencement Moves to June
Thank you to the 451 students, parents and guardians who voted in our Commencement Survey over the last few weeks. The objective of the survey was to solicit the school’s opinion on moving the FHCI Commencement Ceremony from October to June.
The results were as follows: 393 students, or 50.8% of our student body were represented in the survey results. 93% of those that voted indicated that they would like the Commencement ceremony to be held in June each year, versus 7% who voted to maintain the tradition of the October Commencement date. Our staff were also surveyed and 65% voted for a June Commencement as well.
Given these results, our Commencement Ceremony will move to June with our 2022/2023 graduating class being the first group to attend a FHCI June Commencement on Wednesday, June 28. More information will follow in the new year.
Land Acknowledgement: We, the students and staff of Forest Hill Collegiate Institute, acknowledge that we are hosted on the lands of the Mississaugas of the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and the Wendat. We also recognize the enduring presence of all First Nations, Métis, and the Inuit peoples.